Al Gore praises Obama's 'sophistication'

Former vice president Al Gore says he is hopeful about President Obama's second term because the president has learned on the job.

"I think that you already see a greater depth and sophistication in his approach," Gore said on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS. "And I also think you are seeing, on the gun issue, on the immigration issue, on the fiscal cliff issue, a new wariness by Republicans of the firebrands in their ranks who just want to stop everything."

Gore said, "The American people don't want gridlock. They don't want sclerosis. They don't want this hyper-partisanship."

Gore expressed optimism about his own favorite issue, a topic Obama emphasized in his second inaugural address.

Gore said:

"I think he has to follow through. And there are some actions he can take that do not require congressional approval.

"There is a law on the books that requires the EPA to regulate pollution. The Supreme Court has agreed with the obvious interpretation that global warming pollution is pollution. It's been applied to new coal plants. It should be applied to all facilities."